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via emailOf Steeples And Skyscrapers
Friday, July 30th, 2010
As I stood between the gas pump and my car today, the church across the street caught my eye. And drew my eye up. Up its steeple toward the heavens that surrounded it. Instantly, I thought of the God who inhabits those heavens, and I was reminded how architecture can be used to literally point the heart back towards its Maker.
Then I realized, “That’s not really that high.” Compared to skyscrapers I’ve stood next to - heck, compared to the other (newer) buildings in town - that steeple just doesn’t stand as uniquely as it did in an earlier era. And I just paused to wonder for a moment if skyscrapers are the new “steeple.”
I won’t try to answer that (except to say that I think that steeples - and all such “sacred space” - hold a unique value that can never be replaced). But at the very least, it got me thinking: shouldn’t all Christian artists and artisans seek to give their very best to create works that point others toward Jesus? It’s a worthy use of our gifts.
I know because today, somebody’s imagination, design and hard work drew my attention to my God, and reminded me that I am small, but He is big.
Any thoughts? Any artists or artisans out there? I say, go create a Spirit-inspired masterpiece for His glory.
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As I stood between the gas pump and my car today, the church across the street caught my eye. And drew my eye up. Up its steeple toward the heavens that surrounded it. Instantly, I thought of the God who inhabits those heavens, and I was reminded how architecture can be used to literally point the heart back towards its Maker.
Then I realized, “That’s not really that high.” Compared to skyscrapers I’ve stood next to - heck, compared to the other (newer) buildings in town - that steeple just doesn’t stand as uniquely as it did in an earlier era. And I just paused to wonder for a moment if skyscrapers are the new “steeple.”
I won’t try to answer that (except to say that I think that steeples - and all such “sacred space” - hold a unique value that can never be replaced). But at the very least, it got me thinking: shouldn’t all Christian artists and artisans seek to give their very best to create works that point others toward Jesus? It’s a worthy use of our gifts.
I know because today, somebody’s imagination, design and hard work drew my attention to my God, and reminded me that I am small, but He is big.
Any thoughts? Any artists or artisans out there? I say, go create a Spirit-inspired masterpiece for His glory.
The Problem of Judging
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Recently, Pastor John spoke to us from Revelation 3:14-21, and the problem of judging that can be all-too-common in our lives.
The problem stems, in part, from the same malady the Laodicean church had - thinking to ourselves, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” and yet, “not realizing that [we] are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17) - instead of, perhaps, following Jesus’ directive to, “first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5).
As we know, Biblically, there is “judging” (right from wrong, identifying & disciplining sin) and there is judging (condemning, treating as inferior, looking down on). This post is about the latter.
- Have you ever struggled with being judgmental? How did God help you to see that?
- How about this: do you see judging as a problem in the Body of Christ today? How can it be remedied?
Read full post...
Recently, Pastor John spoke to us from Revelation 3:14-21, and the problem of judging that can be all-too-common in our lives.
The problem stems, in part, from the same malady the Laodicean church had - thinking to ourselves, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” and yet, “not realizing that [we] are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17) - instead of, perhaps, following Jesus’ directive to, “first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5).
As we know, Biblically, there is “judging” (right from wrong, identifying & disciplining sin) and there is judging (condemning, treating as inferior, looking down on). This post is about the latter.
- Have you ever struggled with being judgmental? How did God help you to see that?
- How about this: do you see judging as a problem in the Body of Christ today? How can it be remedied?